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| Fast friends: Jim and his sponsored child, 10-year-old Kahkasha, outside her family’s tiny home in Calcutta. |
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Entry One: Into the Maze
Today I paid a visit to my sponsored child, Kahkasha, and her family in Calcutta. I’d met them before two years ago. They are a delightful family – mom, dad and Kahkasha’s brother. Like before, they were warm, friendly and welcoming. It was interesting to see how Kahkasha had changed in two years…at the age of 10, it’s remarkable what a difference two years makes.
She is a beautiful, delicate young lady who, in spite of the poverty all around her, smiles in a way that lights up the day and the dreary surroundings.
The walk to their “home” had been an amazing experience in and of itself. The walkway became narrower and narrower as I entered their building. It’s lined with pathways throughout that are like a maze…very much a labyrinth.
Along the way, people were cooking on small stoves. Others were bathing or washing their hair near a water source. Pretty much a hubbub of activity. I drew more than a few stares. Understandably. This was a foreign place in a foreign land, but nothing was more foreign than me.
Upon entering Kahkasha’s “home” she and her family presented me with gifts…flowers and a painting Kahkasha had done for me. I thought, “Wait a minute, aren’t I supposed to be giving the gifts here?” Their kindness and generosity were sweet and genuine.
The home was really only one room…kind of like your spare bedroom if you happen to have one. Not very big…maybe 10 feet by 12 feet. In this room they lived, they cooked, they ate, they slept. The only thing they didn’t do in this room they did in a community latrine. Not particularly pleasant as I recall from my first visit.
The primary piece of furniture was a platform that served as a bed and table. They did have some shelves above it for storing their few belongings and a few items were stored underneath it, but not many. Hanging on the wall was a Children International backpack.
Dad said he has had difficulty finding work and his health hasn’t been too good either. I think they’re getting by on less than $50 per month. A few months ago my family had made a “special needs” donation to provide some extra things over and above sponsorship.
Children International’s local staff had assessed the family’s needs and used the gift for what was most needed. Among other things, for about what my family might spend in a weekly trip to the grocery store, the family received a remarkable assortment of clothing and enough of a staple food to last six months.
We had done the same for this visit, and when Kahkasha and her brother opened their gifts, their smiles stretched all the way across their faces! It was a bit like Christmas, except for children who don’t receive gifts apart from those they get through sponsorship.
The family generously served Thum’s Up, the Indian version of Coke or Pepsi. They are typical of families I visit when I’m out in the communities; regardless of how little a family has, they willingly share and are always most hospitable.
After chatting some more, I was on my way. I promised I’d return as soon as I could. I need to send a new photo of my family to Kahkasha’s family. Like all families with sponsored children, they really enjoy having a photo-connection with my family.
Later that day, I visited another sponsored child and her family, also in Calcutta. This child is sponsored by my chiropractor. I owe him, as he is quite skilled at getting me re-aligned and thereby bringing me untold relief after the long airplane rides that are a part of trips like this one.
This visit was an experience very similar to the visit to my sponsored child. Except in this case the room that was the home was home to ten people! It is hard to grasp how crowded that is. But then, to an extent, that’s Calcutta. Somewhere around ten to fifteen million people in a city built for a lot less. People are literally everywhere.
Still, ten people in this 10 feet by 10 feet room...it was hard to comprehend. The staff had discovered that this family really wanted a ceiling fan. Seeing their home and knowing how oppressive the heat of Calcutta can be, this was understandable. You can get a ceiling fan for $35 here and we did.
Incidentally, this family, when informed that I would be visiting on behalf of the sponsor, was nervous, fearing that perhaps I might be intending to take the child to my country. The staff did everything they could to reassure mom and dad that I was more than content, and that my hands were quite full raising my own two children. As the visit progressed, I could see that mom and dad were becoming more and more comfortable. And by the end of it, we were fast friends, and I had an invitation to return any time.
Join us again on Thursday as Jim recounts more of his amazing trip to Calcutta. You can also read his journal entries from the trip and comment on the Children International blog.
 Reflections of India Revealing a panorama of colors and contrasts
Sponsor a needy child and begin your own special connection.
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